Outlet comparison
CNN vs. MSNBC
Last updated
CNN is rated Lean Left (Digital) by AllSides and Left-Center with mostly factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. MSNBC is rated Left with mixed factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check.
Side by side
| Measure | CNN | MSNBC |
|---|---|---|
| AllSides | Lean Left (Digital) | — |
| Media Bias/Fact Check | Left-Center · Mostly Factual | Left · Mixed factual reporting |
| Ownership | Warner Bros. Discovery | NBCUniversal (Comcast) |
| Founded | 1980 | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, GA | New York, NY |
| Type | Cable news network | Cable news network |
| Stories covered (30 days) | 287 | 222 |
| Neutral framing | 46% of 35 | 53% of 36 |
| Loaded phrases per story | 0.57 | 0.5 |
| Top topic | Top Stories | Top Stories |
Ratings come from AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check. Coverage figures are CadNews measurements of each outlet's feed; framing shows only once at least 10 of an outlet's articles were analyzed.
Same story, two headlines
Recent stories both outlets covered, with each one's headline and, where CadNews analyzed the story, how it framed it.
- As Russia penalises European firms over Ukraine, US rivals largely sparedCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter-left framing“Russia willing to resume trilateral peace talks in November, Kremlin says after Witkoff meeting | CNN”
Straight reporting on the Kremlin's timeline with emphasis on the 3-hour duration.
MSNBCLeft framing“‘We got Greenland’: Trump pushes a made-up line about ownership of the arctic island”Focuses on unrelated Arctic claims to frame Trump's foreign policy as erratic.
- Judge tosses Trump lawsuit against WSJ, Murdoch over Epstein storyCompare every outlet's coverage →
- Binance investigates potential multibillion-dollar hackCompare every outlet's coverage →
- Grand jury declines to indict Cassidy Hutchinson over Jan. 6 testimonyCompare every outlet's coverage →MSNBCNeutral“Grand jury rejects indictment against Cassidy Hutchinson, ex-Trump White House aide, over Jan. 6 testimony”
Very limited text; primarily serves as a placeholder for broader coverage.
- What to Know About Brazil’s Election, and What Comes NextCompare every outlet's coverage →
- Melania Trump Secures Localized Ceasefire Between Russia, Ukraine: White HouseCompare every outlet's coverage →CNN“Melania Trump says she secured one-city ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine for humanitarian aid”MSNBCLeft framing“Trump stands behind Ramaswamy on disturbing TV ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother”
Content provided pertains to a different story, making framing for this event impossible to assess.
- Pope Leo's doctors say no further treatment is necessary after lung cancer surgeryCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNNeutral“Pope Leo needs no further lung cancer treatment, Vatican says | CNN”
Places the diagnosis in a broader health context by citing lung cancer statistics.
- Sister of Stephen Hubbard, released by Russia, thanks Trump as 'hand of God'Compare every outlet's coverage →MSNBCLeft framing“They voted for Trump in 2024. Now he’s calling their Senate candidate a ‘jihadist.’”
Article content is irrelevant to the Hubbard story, focusing on Michigan electoral politics.
Covered by CNN, not MSNBC
Big stories (5+ outlets) in the last 30 days.
Covered by MSNBC, not CNN
Big stories (5+ outlets) in the last 30 days.
Is CNN or MSNBC more biased?
CNN is rated Lean Left (Digital) by AllSides and Left-Center with mostly factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. MSNBC is rated Left with mixed factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. CadNews doesn't rank outlets; these are independent raters' labels, and the stories below show how each outlet framed the same events.
Is CNN or MSNBC more reliable?
CNN: mostly factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. MSNBC: mixed factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. Factual ratings describe an outlet's track record, not any single article.
How often do CNN and MSNBC cover the same stories?
Over the last 30 days, CadNews found 9 stories that both CNN and MSNBC covered.
What does CadNews's own analysis show?
In CadNews's analysis of 35 stories over the last 30 days, CNN's framing leaned left of center in 17, and was neutral in 16. In CadNews's analysis of 36 stories over the last 30 days, MSNBC's framing leaned left of center in 17, and was neutral in 19.
Who owns CNN and MSNBC?
CNN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. MSNBC is owned by NBCUniversal (Comcast).
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